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| SA court rejects Zuma graft case | SA court rejects Zuma graft case |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead. | A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead. |
| He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal. | He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal. |
| A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated. | A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated. |
| His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision effectively clears the path for Mr Zuma to become president. | His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision effectively clears the path for Mr Zuma to become president. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Pietermaritzburg said there are scenes of celebration outside the court, where hundreds of people had gathered since Thursday evening for an all-night vigil. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Pietermaritzburg said there are scenes of celebration outside the court, where hundreds of people had gathered since Thursday evening for an all-night vigil. |
| We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate Floyd ShimvambuANC Youth League Timeline: Zuma's legal problemsZuma: Comeback kid | |
| They had braved the very cold wintry and drizzly night to show their support, singing and chanting in Zulu "vuli ndlela", which loosely translated, means open the door. | They had braved the very cold wintry and drizzly night to show their support, singing and chanting in Zulu "vuli ndlela", which loosely translated, means open the door. |
| Their message was that the Supreme Court should leave the way open for Mr Zuma to become president next year by dropping the case. | Their message was that the Supreme Court should leave the way open for Mr Zuma to become president next year by dropping the case. |
| Jubilant | |
| Judge Chris Nicholson said the decision to prosecute without consulting Mr Zuma, 66, had been invalid and ordered the charges to be set aside. | Judge Chris Nicholson said the decision to prosecute without consulting Mr Zuma, 66, had been invalid and ordered the charges to be set aside. |
| "I must repeat that this application has nothing to do with the guilt or otherwise of the applicant. It deals only with the procedural point relating to his [Zuma] right to making representations before the respondent [the prosecution] makes a decision on whether to charge him," AFP news agency quotes him as saying. | "I must repeat that this application has nothing to do with the guilt or otherwise of the applicant. It deals only with the procedural point relating to his [Zuma] right to making representations before the respondent [the prosecution] makes a decision on whether to charge him," AFP news agency quotes him as saying. |
| Mr Zuma has mass grass-roots support in the ruling ANC | Mr Zuma has mass grass-roots support in the ruling ANC |
| A jubilant Mr Zuma embraced his lawyer after the ruling, AP news agency reports. | |
| His lawyers are also applying for a permanent stay of prosecution in a separate case. | His lawyers are also applying for a permanent stay of prosecution in a separate case. |
| Our correspondent says there is no doubting Mr Zuma's popularity and huge crowds are waiting for him to address them. | Our correspondent says there is no doubting Mr Zuma's popularity and huge crowds are waiting for him to address them. |
| "We came here to celebrate and we are going to celebrate. This [the judgement] exposed Thabo Mbeki and everybody who did this to him," South Africa's Mail and Guardian paper quotes ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shimvambu as saying. | |
| Tension | |
| The charges against the African National Congress (ANC) leader related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totalling 30bn rand ($3.7bn; £2bn) to modernise its national defence force. | |
| The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa. | The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa. |
| Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president in 2005, when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the deal. | |
| He then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed. | He then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed. |
| He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president. | He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president. |
| Elections are due to be held in April or May 2009. | Elections are due to be held in April or May 2009. |
| Tension was raised this week, following the publication of a cartoon showing Mr Zuma about to rape a figure labelled "Lady Justice" - a reference to the criticism of judges by Mr Zuma's supporters. | Tension was raised this week, following the publication of a cartoon showing Mr Zuma about to rape a figure labelled "Lady Justice" - a reference to the criticism of judges by Mr Zuma's supporters. |
| "We will eliminate any forces that come our way," ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday, according to local media. | "We will eliminate any forces that come our way," ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday, according to local media. |
| In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids. | In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids. |
| Are you in South Africa? What is your reaction to the court verdict? Send your comment using the form below: | Are you in South Africa? What is your reaction to the court verdict? Send your comment using the form below: |